Live review: Green Day at the Forum

The pop-punk veteran group spreads its message of secular humanism in an age of 'static and contraband' before a mass of screaming Southern Californians.

"Look at where we live!" Billie Joe Armstrong, the frontman of Oakland pop-punk veteran Green Day, exclaimed Tuesday night at the Forum, where he spent considerable time extolling the virtues of life in California after spending two months on the road.

The show capped the band's North American tour in support of its latest album, "21st Century Breakdown," the follow-up to its Grammy winning epic "American Idiot."

"We've just gotta get rid of Arnold Schwarzenegger," Armstrong continued, riling the already enthusiastic crowd. "We're bankrupt! But tonight we're not bankrupt of hope, or of belief."

At the Forum, business in belief was booming. Over three action-packed hours, Green Day proved that the arena-rock concert -- usually a venue for chest-beating bravado and shallow bombast -- can be a meaningful experience, an opportunity for a band with something to say, to say it.

Not that Armstrong and his bandmates are uninterested in chest-beating bravado and shallow bombast: During "Brain Stew," the singer soaked fans near the stage with an oversized water gun, then traded up to an air-powered T-shirt launcher, sending free Green Day merchandise rocketing into the cheap seats. (He did this while wearing a pair of felt bunny ears offered up by an audience member.)

And though Armstrong announced early on that he viewed the show as an in-the-moment repudiation of our increasing addiction to television, computers and cellphones, the production featured no shortage of high-tech stagecraft, including a video-screen backdrop and columns of color-coordinated fire.

Yet the soul of Tuesday's concert was the band's message of secular humanism in an age of "static and contraband" as Armstrong sang in "Song of the Century."

Green Day's transformation into a thoughtful political outfit has perhaps come as a surprise to the band's old-school fans, who remember when Armstrong was better known for his depictions of the young and the listless. But George W. Bush's presidency radicalized Armstrong, and since then he's used Green Day's music to poke at power and to sketch out a democratic ideal he refers to in the new album's "Know Your Enemy" as a "choir infantry."

Democracy took real-life form several times Tuesday, when Armstrong pulled fans onstage to sing "Longview" and play guitar on "Jesus of Suburbia." Punk groups often talk about breaking down the barrier between performer and spectator; Green Day actually did it.

Punk groups don't often talk about wanting to sound like the E Street Band, but Green Day did that too, sweetening its attack with the help of three auxiliary musicians, who added keyboards, saxophone and thick vocal harmonies to music that somehow retained a breakneck propulsion.

Near the end of the show -- which Glasgow's Franz Ferdinand opened with a tidy 35-minute set of taut disco-rock -- the band paid homage to a series of other influences in a rapid-fire medley containing snippets of songs by the Doors, the Isley Brothers and the Rolling Stones. The bit served to illustrate Green Day's admirably open-armed approach, but it also underscored the group's new belief in public service: Here was one of the world's most popular rock bands acting as a humble jukebox for 18,000 or so screaming Southern Californians.

--Mikael Wood

Photo credit: Getty Images

Comments

[ERICK CARO]

BY FAR THE BEST MOST CAPTIVATING CONCERT IVE BEEN TO .GREEN DAY ROCKS

[Bev Haut]

Possibly the greatest concert experience of my life. From the opening song, "21st Century Breakdown," to the closing number, "Time of Your Life," we were on our feet, from the rafters to the floors. And we knew all the lyrics! I'll never forget this one.

[Jennifer Bryant]

I have been to a lot of concerts but this concert was the best I have ever seen hands down.

I can not wait for the next tour.

TO ALL ROCK BANDS
Go see a Green day show to see how it should be done!!!

[Carli Nunya]

It was such an experience, & as always Green Day delivered! From Woodstock '94, and Mike losing his front 2 teeth to some bouncer..(yeah, even Cindy Crawford didn't know them back then..) to the Home Depot in 2005, and then the fabulous Forum, these guys can play. And all damn day~

peacE!

[Tamara Newmeyer]

AMAZING is all that comes to my mind of the Green Day concert last night. I feel so blessed to have been able to experience their greatness. Every time I see them they just get better and better!!! One of the best concerts I've ever been too! Green Day has done it again... they've blown my mind!! Everyone must see them in concert, at least, one time in their lives. Sound even better in person! Billy Joe is always on key, even after a 3 hour show!!

[Affi Janjua]

THIS WAS MY FIRST CONCERT!!! I AM SO GLAD I CHOSE GREEN DAY FOR MY 1ST CONCERT!! BILLY JOE WAS THE BEST!! HE WAS RLLY FUNNY TOO!GREEN DAY, U RLLY NO HOW TO GET URE FANS FIRED UP!! URE DA BEST!!

[Curts]

Wow, what a show! As a 40 something rocker, I went to Green Day invited by a friend who likes them a lot, and me not really knowing any of their songs, I came away being blown away at how much fun and energy this band was to watch. They played over 3 hours almost nonstop! I will definately see them again.
I do hope that next time, Green Day picks a better venue than the Forum, as there was way too many pyrotechnics for the Forum ventalation system to handle. We were seriously smoked out in there, and the smoke even came heavy into the concession area. But that aside Green Day rocks!

[Karen Cedano]

this was my first concert, and i doubt ever seeing anything better, wow, words cant describe what great things i experienced last night.

[Angela]

Fantastic show!!! I laughed, I sang, I danced.
It was my 1st Green Day show, but it definitely won't be my last. Amazing show. They brought the goods, big time.

[Carol]

I also saw Green Day last week in San Diego, LA was NO dissapointment. How they they can maintain that level of energy and enthusiasm and conviction day after day is amazing and inspiring. I had one set of bruises on my knees from the seats in front of me at the SD show, and today I have a new set from the Forum. I can't remember a concert that I screamed, and danced, and sang, and jumped, and clapped, and laughed - - from the moment they took the stage to the moment they left. I first saw GD years and years ago and some cheesy rec center in Cambridge UK. I stood next to Billie Joe as he watched the opening act - he was on crutches with a broken leg. I spoke to him briefly and let him know how much I liked their music. I've seen them a fair many time since than and it is SO cool that now 10's of thousands or millions of people now agree. Concerts don't get any better than that.

[Glen Miki]

I went to the Sacramento show Monday night as well as Tuesday night's show and Green Day was amazing.

I have been to several concerts in my life and this was by far the BEST EVER. Green Day played for OVER THREE HOURS and did not miss a single beat. WOW!

Hopfully they will be back soon, I can not wait to take my girlfriend to see them again. They had the Forum ROCKING all night long, from the top of the rafters to the fans standing right next to the stage.

Thank you Green Day for such an amazing experience of a lifetime.

[Argonomic]

Best concert I've been to. The energy was non stop and pulling up audience members to perform really took it to a new level. The kid that sang Longview and the 21 year old that played guitar for two songs really owned the stage too, was an amazingly fun thing to see.

[Carli Nunya]

p.s. And may I add, the only thing Fabulous about the less than fab Forum that night, was Green Day~

:)

Viva La Rock & Roll!!!

[Tim in Calabasas]

Only Pink Floyd's 1980 'The Wall' concert can come close to the entertainment value of last Tuesday's Green Day show.

By far one of the purest, cleanest, most professional shows of our generation.

[Crystal Mitchell]

I got to be on the floor for this concert and i was so excited! And Green Day didn't disappoint! They are by far the best live band out there and they really know how to pull the crowd in so every one has an amazing time. I have been to lots of concert, four of them Green Day and this one was by far the BEST!

[Christine Blake]

Green Day was Fantastic! Billie Joe said at the beginning of the concert “are you ready to f**##* party all night?” I didn’t think he was serious! How many bands play for over three hours? Unbelievable! The band’s energy was awe-inspiring. I don’ think Billie Joe ever stopped moving and he definitely never stopped singing. The fact that Green Day sounds the same in concert as they do on their records is amazing.

Say what you want about the Forum, but I really enjoyed it because I saw my first concert there ages ago, and now I got to take my daughter to see her first concert there as well. That’s pretty cool. During the concert, she leaned over and said “this has to better than Peter Frampton.” Boy was she right!!!

I do feel bad that at twelve, she has seen the best concert she will ever experience. Nothing will ever compare.

[Janice]

I seen greenday 14 years ago and i have to say Wow they have got great not better with age.

[Monica]

This was, by far, one of the best concerts I've been to. 3 hours of unbelievable entertainment. I felt such a part of the whole experience. Billy Joe is the epitome of a frontman.
Green Day Rocks!!!

[Theresa]

this was my 1st greenday, and my nephews first concert ever...unfortunately for him, no other concert wil ever live up to this....he happened to be in the section Billy Joe went to at the beginning of the show...how will anything ever match the excitement of high fiving the singer at your first concert!!!!! it was an awesome show..I still have the morning after glow!!!!

[Nick Arnold]

Quite possibly the best concert I've ever seen. I've never seen a band's setlist as long as Green Day's was. An excellent show and I can't wait to see them again.

[Jameszeee]

Wow, Mikael Wood describes this concert in a very political way when in fact Billie Joe only made one comment about getting rid of Arnold and went on to play music. The focus of the entire evening should be on the music and the great musical performance that Greenday put out. Greenday played many of their old favorites in addition to some songs off their new album. They played longer than expected and they sounded great.
Leave the political review for another day, this was a rock concert enjoyed by both George Bush and Bill Clinton fans alike.
As Billie Joe put it, in that forum, on that night, we were all in our own world.

[Yolanda Campos]

WOW! What a concert that was! I have attended so many concerts throughtout my life and I can honestly say that Green Day's concert on Tues night has moved up on my list as the best ever!!! Springsteen (circa 1980 @ the colliseum) and Mellencamp (at the forum) reigned supreme on my list as the best performances ever. This is no longer the case! Green Day was AMAZING!!!! I loved loved loved it!!!! Did not want the evening to end even after 3+ hours! Bille Joe is the BEST!!!!

[Lana]

I took my 13 & 14 yr olds to see them in St. Louis. It was their first concert ever and my first time to see Green Day. It was truly the best concert I have ever seen! I went out the next day & bought 3 of their albums. I have had various Green Day songs stuck in my head every day since the concert. East Jesus Nowhere rocks. I will see them next tour, in St. Louis & KC.

[Mike Powell]

I am a newbie when it comes to Green Day...started listening to them during American Idiot.....this was the first time I saw them in concert...and it was just flat out amazing...a 3 hour set that included every single song I had ever heard...before going to the concert...I was a fan of Green Day...now I want to see them every time they come to town....best concert I've ever seen hands down.......what an incredible night! :) thanks Billy Joe and the band....

[Genesis]

Best Concert of my life!!
I'm a really big fan!!
Even though I was wayy in the back like row 24 sect. 31 far
it was all perfect!
3 hours of standing, yelling, singing, and jumping was all worth it!!
Can't wait until the next show!!!!
GO GREEN DAY!